Place



+u e e h S s .TJ e er h s 2 E L O. C P..

Patented Feb. 3, 1891.

(No Model.) l2 sheets-.sheet 2.-

E. W. COLE. SUCCESSIVE NON-INTEEEERENCE SIGNAL BOX.

110.445,801. Patented Peb. 3, 1891.

INVENTOR .-Z'Teevczla @loze WITNESSES 5. www@ la7 Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FREPERICK lV. COLE, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MOSES G. CRANE, OF SAMEPLACE.

SUCCESSIVE NON-INTERFERENCE SIGNAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,801, dated February 3, 1891. Application tiled November 14, 1890. Serial No. 371,427. (No model.)

To LZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. COLE, of Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented anv Improvement in Successive Nonlnterference Signal-Boxes, of

which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

to This invention hasforits object to improve the construction of non-interference signalboxes, more especially in the production of a successive box, or one which when once started will send in its signal if the line is i 5 clear or will wait unt-il such time arrives and then send in its signal without repetition on the part of the operator.

The invention consists in a signal-box containing the `following instrumentalities, viz:

zo a signaling mechanism, a non-interference magnet and its armature, means for setting a signal, means for retaining` the set signal when the line is in use, signal-controlling mechanism governed by said armature, which operates to effect or permit the transmission of the retained signal on that closure in the signaling-circuit which is of longer duration than the longest closure in any signal. The signaling mechanism may be of any wellknown or suitable construction, consisting of a train-work and a signaling-circuit changer adapted to operate the signaling-circuit to transmit the borenumber. `The means employed for retaining the set signal when the 3 5 line is in use may be any form of controlling lever or devicewsuch, for instance, as a locking-lever-which maybe movedinto position to hold the train in suspension, or otherwise prevent the transmission of the signalen a 4o break in the signaling-circuit. The signalcontrolling mechanism comprehends any form of device or devices for restoring the means employed for retaining the signal to its normal position, or placingit in such position as to allow the signal to go in, or not longer to obstruct the transmission oi' the signal, only on a closure in the signaling-circuit of lon gerd uration than the longest closure in anysignal. By means of signal-controlling 5o mechanism of this kind a box when once cut out will not again obtain control of the signaling-circuit until the signaling-circuit has been closed a longer time than the longest closure in any signal, and hence will not interrupt a signal going in.

Figure vl shows in front elevation the signaling mechanism of a tire-alarm box having a non-interference device embodying this invention; Figs. 2 and 3, details ot' the non-interference devices alone slightly modified; 6o Fig. et, a modification to be described, showing how a non-interference device embed yin g this invention herein shown may be applied to another form of signaling mechanism; and Figs. 5 and 6, still other modifications to be 65 referred to.

The signaling mechanism shown in Fig. l. consists of a normally-woundtrain or motor comprising the main spring a, placed on the winding-arbor a', theintermeshin g gears, and 7o pinions a2 CL3 a4 a5 a al and the escape-wheel l) and escapement not shown'. The wheel of* of the train has a flange having a notch which receives a projection 2 on the startinglever c, which lever is pivoted at c and is held depressed by a spring c2. A circuitwheel d is secured to the shaft or arbor d and has bearing upon it the contact-pens d2. The pivoted actuating-pull e engages and lifts the starting-lever c when depressed, re- 8o moving the projection 2 to release the motor mechanism, thereby permitting thecircuitwheel CZ to rotate until the notched wheel at completes one revolution, at which time the projection 2 of the starting-lever enters the S5 notch of the wheel CUL.

The lever c, which I herein denominate a signaling-lever, as herein shown, carries a contact-point d2, which normally bears on a stationary contact-point cl3, said contact be- 9o ing employed as the usual shunt for the box.

The controlling-lever for the box which forms a cooperative part of the means employed for retaining the signal when the line is in use is herein shown asa locking-lever, I (represented in Fig. l at f,) and, as shown,is formed integral with the armature-carrying lever f and sector-carrying arm f2, the said arms divergng from a central pivotal point, 'although they may be variously arranged, as Ioo will be more fully explained. Then the controllingdever f is moved for the purpose of locking the train, it co-opcrates with or engages a pin 25 on the escape-wheel. The electro-magnet f5 is included in the signalingcircuit, as shown, during the time the signaling lever or arm c is raised, although it may be included during the time the box-door is open or all at the time if the shunt-circuit be omitted. The position of the locking-lever may be changed. to lock the signaling' mechanism after it has started by the demagnetization of the electro-magnetfi, caused by the circuit being interrupted, as by a signal being transmitted from one of the other boxes in the circuit.

A stop or lever 20, held in its normal position by a spring or equivalent, is herein shown as attached to the signaling-lever c, terminating adjacent to a projection 2l on the locking-lever f, or it may be on the other levers f or f2, so that when the signaling-lever e is lifted by the actuating-pull the en d of the said stop or lever 2O will occupy a position at one side of the said projection 21 on the locking-lever, and thereby serve as a stop or abutment to prevent the locking-lever or other controlling member from stopping the train during the time the circuit-Wheel d is itself interrupting the circuit. Yet owing to the yielding action or independent movement of thestop 20, the said signaling-lever c is free to be lifted at any time, being depressed or held down by the projection 21 should it be in the Way.

With the parts as shown in Fig. l, the boxdoor being open, and the armature attracted in consequence, if the actuatingpull be moved the signaling-lever c will be lifted, the stop 2O will pass to the right-hand side of the projection 2l, thereby holding the controllinglever in the position shown, with the armature against the poles of the magnet, and the projection 2, disengaging its wheel a4, will permit the lnotor to operate and transmit the signal; but if a signal is being transmitted from another box in the circuit at the time the present or home box is operated, the armature of the non-interference magnet will not be attracted, and the locking-lever will occupy a position to engage with the pin 25 as soon as the train has moved said pin 25 up to it, so that the motor when started by the signaling-lever will be stopped after it has been started or held in suspension. It is desired to return the controlling-lever to its normal position as soon as possible, that the motor may continue to operate and transmit the signal, and yet a sufficient length of time should elapse before the completion of the signal which is being transmitted from an` other box, and hence I have provided means for controlling the return movement of the said controlling-lever, which may be so timed as to permit the said lever to return to its normal position in a predetermined length of time after the circuit has ceased to be interrupted or is closed, such means constituting the signalcontrollin g mechanism. This controlling mechanism, as herein shown, consists of a retarding device herein shown as a toothed sector '11, attached to the sector-carrying bar f2, (see Fig. 1,) and engaginga pinion t", fixed to a shaft carrying a ratchet-wheel 2. A spring-controlled pawl 1?* is pivoted to the y side of a toothed wheel t ,mounted loosely on the shaft carrying the ratchet-Wheel 2, and said toothed Wheel t serving as an escape- Wheel and having co-operating with it an escapement. As the sector-carrying bar f2 is retracted, the motor i rotates the pinion t" and ratchet-Wheel in the direction to allow the pawl 'i3 to slip freely over the teeth of the ratchet, and as the armature is attracted the sector is returned by the force of the magnet, and during its return movement the paWl is engaged and the Wheel t4 moved in unison with the ratchet-Wheel, its speed being regulated by the escapement. It will thus be seen that very shortly after the circuit has been restored to its normal condition the arm f2 Will be restored, and as the controlling-lever f is movable simultaneously with or controlled by it the motor will be released and the signal will be transmitted.

In Fig. 2 the controlling-lever f and the sector-bar f2 are formed in one piece, which is loosely mounted upon the shaft of the armature-carrying bar f', and in this instance the armature is extended laterally to strike the sector-bar and move it as the armature is retracted, While a spring Tis employed to return the sector-bar to its normal position instead of the force of the magnet, as in Fig. l, and hence the armature is left free to respond quickly to the interruptions of the circuit.

In Fig. 3 the sector f2 is formed integral with or attached to the armature-carrying bar f', and the `locking-lever f is made independent, being pivoted on the shaft supporting the armature-carrying bar, and said locking-lever fis moved away from the non-interference magnet into position to lock the train by means of a spring 7a2? when permitted to do so by means of the armature which lies in the path of movement of the said locking-lever.

Referring to Fig. 4, the controlling-lever f is connected with the retarding device and carries the armature. A shoulder f5 is formed on said controlling-lever, with which co-operates a spring-controlled arm or stop f6, the function of said arm or stop f6 and the shoulder f5 being substantially the same as the function of the stop 2O and projection 2l. (Shown in Fig. l.) y

Referring to Fig. 5, a motor mechanism is shown adapted to be Wound up as the sector t is pulled down. One of the Wheels of the train, as t', has a rim t2 with a notch t3. The locking-lever f is shown as secured tothe armature, so that when the armature is retracted the train is engaged by the lockingleverf. The escapement or retarding device in this and other figures is timed to consume ICO ITO

III;

a little more time in operating than is occupied by the longest break in the signal-wheel, so that the locking-lever f will not be moved or returned sufiiciently to release or disengage the signaling mechanism on a closure of short duration. By thus timing the retarding device it will not be necessary for a box to be held in suspense a longtime afterasignal has been transmitted, as the locking-lever will be restored almost immediately after the first signal has been completed, and the secondcan then follow immediately.

Referring to Fig. 6, the locking projection or stop is arranged on the spring-arm 80, corresponding with the yielding stop 20, Fig. l, and a projection 8l is arranged on the armature-carrying lever, which corresponds with the projection 2l and subserves the same func tion. In all instances shown a successive box appears.

As I have herein shown my invention as applied to signaling mechanism of different forms, I do not desire to limit myself to its application to any particular form.

It is not intended to limit this invention to the specific form of means fo r retainingthe signal set when the line is in use, or to the specific form of signal-controlling mechanism herein shown, as it is obvious that other forms or constructions-such, for instance, as thatshown in my pending applications, Serial No. 326,607, filed October l0, 1889; No. 331,192, iiled November 2, 1886; No. 358,845, tiled May 31, 1890, No. 352,009, iiled May 1G, 1890; No. 348,785, filed April 2l, i890; No. 350,423, tiled May 31, 1800; No. 352,550, filed May 20, 1890; No. 355,827,1iled June 8,1800, andNo. 358,600, tiled July 14, l890-could be substituted without departing from my invention, which is to be construed broadly,irrespective of the specifc forms of means and mechanism employed.

,I claiml. Asuccessive non-:interference signal-box containing the following instrumentalities, viz: a Windable signaling mechanism, a noninterference.inagnet,its armature, means for setting a signal, means for retaining the set signal when the line is in use, and signal-controlling mechanism governed by said armature and constructed and arranged to effect or permit the transmission of a signal on a closure in the signaling-circuit of longer duration than the longest closure in any signal, substantially as set forth.

2. In a signal-box, a signaling mechanism, signaling-lever, and a locking-lever which when moved positively engages and holds the signaling mechanism, combined with an electro-magnet and its armature, movement of which in one direction moves the lockinglcver into engagement with the signaling mechanism or train, and a retarding device for the said locking-lever, substantially as described.

3. In a signal-box, signaling mechanism and a non-interference electro-magnet, combined with a locking-lever controlled by the armature of the said electro-magnet, and adapted to be moved freely or unrest rained in one direction to lock the signaling mechanism by a change in the condition 4of the circuit, and a retardlng device for the said locking-lever, which is engaged by said lever on its return movement, that the said locking-lever may return to its normal position slowly, substantially as described.

4. In a signal-box, a signaling-train and a locking-lever movable freely or unrestrained in one direction to engage and hold the signaling-train, and a non-interference electromagnet permitting such movement, combined with a retarding device Which is engaged by said locking-lever von its return movement, said retarding device being timed to restrain or retard the said locking-lever a little longer time than is consumed by the longest impulse of the signal-Wheel, substantially as described. i

5. rIn a signalebox, a signaling-train, signaling-lever, and lockingleverf for the signaling-train, combined with the non-interference electro -rnagn et, its armature-carrying bar, the sector fi, pinion i', ratchet, pawl, and escapement, substantially as described.

6. In a signal-box, the signaling mechanism, combined With a non-interference magnet, its armature, and a lever adapted to cooperate with one member of the said signaling mechanism and control its operation, movement of said lever being governed by the armature of said non-interference magnet, and a retarding device for retarding or restraining the movement of said armature in one direction only, substantially as described.

7. In a signatbox, the signaling mechanism and signaling-lever therefor, and a stop, as 2, on one of the members of said signaling mechanism, combined With the non-inten ference electromagnet, and the locking-lever IIO f, controlled by said electro-magnet, the engaging end of which, When in its abnormal position, enters the path of movement of the said stop 2, but does not contact therewith until the member having the stop has moved a short distance that the signaling-train may be stopped after it has been started, but before its rst impulse has been transmitted, and there Yheld until released by said lockinglever f, after which it continues to operate and transmit its signal, and a retardin-g device for retarding the movement of the said locking-lever from its abnormal to its normal position, substantially as described.

8. In a signal-box, the signaling mechamsm comprising as a co-operative part of it a memberliavin g asto pand a starting lever,combined with the non-interference electro-magnet, a locking-lever,movement of which is controlled by the armature of the said electro-magnet, said locking-lever when in its abnormal position engaging the aforesaid stop to stop and render inoperative the signaling mechanism after it has been started, and an adjustable retarding device cooperating with the locking-lever on its return movement, substantially as described.

9. In a signal-box, the signaling mechanism, signaling-lever therefor, the non-interference magnet, and its armature,combined with the pvoted three-armed lever, the arms ol` which radiate from the pivotal point of the said lever, one of which arms carries the said armature, another of which arms serves as a locking arm or lever and engages and locks the signaling-train when moved into its abnormal position, and a retarding device, substantially as described, cooperating With the third arm only on the return movement of the said three-armed lever to its normal position,snb stantially as described.

l0. In a signal-box, thc signaling mechanism and signaling-lever, the non-interference 1nagnet,and its armature, combined with the movable stop 20, independent of but moved by the signalingdever when the latter is lifted, and the projection 2l, with which the stop cooperates to hold the armature of the said noninterlerence magnetin fixed position, substantially as described.

Il. In a signal-box, the signaling mechanism and signaling-lever, the non-interference magnet, its armature, and alocliing-lever for the signaling mechanism controlled by said armature, combined With the movable stop for the locking-lever, its engagement therewith depending on the position oi' the armature of the non-interference magnet, substantially las described.

l2. In a signal-box, the signaling mechanism and signaling-lever, the non-interference magnet, its armature, and a locking-lever for the signaling mechanism controlled by said armature, combined with a movablel stop for the locking-lever, controlled by the armature of the non-interference magnet, substantially as described.

13. In a signal-box, the signaling mechanism and signaling-lever, the non-interference magnet, its armature, and a locking-lever for the signaling mechanism controlled by said armature, combined with a movable stop for the locking-lever independent of but controlled by the signaling-lever, substantially as described.

1l. In a fire-alarm system, several boxes connected in circuit and each having a stop on one of its co-operating members, and a non-interference magnet and a locking-lever controlled by the armaturethereof, and a differently-timed retarding device co-operating with the lockinglever of each box on its return movement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK IV. COLE.

Witnesses:

BERNICE J. NoYEs, EDWARD F. ALLEN. 

